Antique Courting Canoes

[Glenn MacGrady]

"There’s more than just a little wickedness in the history of the canoe, and the largest collection of it resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the possession of Ken Kelly. His collection of old-style courting canoes, vehicles of furtive love in a bygone era, fills the rafters of his quaint northern Michigan cottage, garage and the second story of a nearby warehouse."

Canoe Casanova: Ken Kelly’s Wicked Romance With Wood And Canvas Courting Canoes

Harken back to the early 1900s, when courting your gal meant heading out on a moonlit river for a little smooching in the canoe.

paddlingmag.com

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Not the first choice for a tripping canoe now, or even when canoes were more popular than golf and skiing combined in the early 20th century (I recently learned), but I'm just curious whether anyone here owns or has paddled a long-decked courting canoe.

 

[Fitz]

I have a 16 ft. Robertson, but it is waiting for me to canvas it.

These canoes were also raced as shown in the attached 1927 video of a race on the Charles River (MA). Note the portaging techniques!

 

[Robin]

I have a 16’ Robertson too, but not a long deck. I bought it from Yellowcanoe. It must have lead an easy life for being 100 years old (at least) as the interior is in great condition. The center thwart is off set to accommodate the paddler and non paddler.



It’s up top waiting for paint,

 

[alsg]

I have a 16 ft. Robertson, but it is waiting for me to canvas it.

These canoes were also raced as shown in the attached 1927 video of a race on the Charles River (MA). Note the portaging techniques!

Those guys were making some pretty good speed!!

 

[Benson Gray]

I'm just curious whether anyone here owns or has paddled a long-decked courting canoe.

The answer depends on how you define "long-decked courting canoe" since not many people have canoes with decks that are over three feet long like many of Ken's. The thread below describes the canoe with the longest decks that I currently own.

Benson

AA grade Old Town Molitor model in original condition from 1921

This is an AA grade Old Town Molitor model in original condition from 1921. It has closed gunwales and pocked ribs like a Morris.

www.wcha.org

 

[Mason]

I have a 16 ft. Robertson, but it is waiting for me to canvas it.

These canoes were also raced as shown in the attached 1927 video of a race on the Charles River (MA). Note the portaging techniques!

Wow, a Canadian high kneel! High kneeling and heeling?

 

[Alan Gage]

I was going to make some sort of joke/pun/innuendo about 'long decked' canoes but there were too many to choose from.

Alan

 

[Odyssey]

"I have a 16’ Robertson too, but not a long deck. I bought it from Yellowcanoe. It must have lead an easy life for being 100 years old (at least) as the interior is in great condition. The center thwart is off set to accommodate the paddler and non paddler." Robin

Can you explain what the offset thwart is?

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

These canoes were also raced as shown in the attached 1927 video of a race on the Charles River (MA).

Interesting video. Thanks, Fitz. Yes, very impressed by a high kneel heel. I suspect there were a lot more highly skilled single blade canoers in 1920 than there are now, at least on flat water.

 

[Benson Gray]

Can you explain what the offset thwart is?

I'm not Robin but an 'offset thwart' usually indicates the lack of a center thwart. The offset may be about 18 inches if the canoe is intended for solo use by someone who will be kneeling in the middle or the offset may be a few feet if it is intended for courting with your date reclining against a back rest while facing the stern paddler. Any offset makes it difficult to portage the canoe alone.

Benson

 

[yellowcanoe]

Wow Fitz! not only high kneel but high kneel heeled over... Let's try THAT!!

 

[MyKneesHurt]

Someone told me that the era of courting canoes is where we get the term "canoodling" from. I half-way believe it.

 

[Benson Gray]

I believe it too, as shown in the links below with a slightly different spelling,

Benson

Social Media Images

The WCHA has become more active in social media (i.e. Facebook and Instagram) recently as requested by the board of directors. The older pictures and captions are also available at http://www.wcha.org/content/social-media-images if you want to see what has been posted but don't have an account...

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Love Boats: The Delightfully Sinful History of Canoes

Before the youth of America fooled around at drive-ins and necked on Lover’s Lane, they coupled in canoes. Boatloads of them. In the early 1900s, canoes...

www.collectorsweekly.com